Where Can I Find Information About Bermudagrass in North Carolina?

So you want to put in some bermudagrass for warm season grazing or haying.

Here are a few quick facts about bermudagrass:

• Bermudagrass is a warm season perennial that can be seeded or sprigged.

• There are many varieties, sprigged and seeded, that are appropriate for forage systems.

• Bermudagrass grows well in sandy soils, can tolerate drought and heat, and can produce high yields under favorable conditions, growing in southeastern North Carolina about six months out of the year under most conditions. Bermudagrass requires well-drained soils and in general can tolerate close grazing.

• Producers can extend the growing season by overseeding a winter annual such as ryegrass into their bermudagrass for 10-12 months of forage. It is imperative that this overseeded crop be removed in a timely manner to allow bermudagrass to green up in the spring.

• Bermudagrass requires good fertilization and favorable pH, so soil tests are recommended to accurately determine crop needs. It is best to apply fertilizer in split applications since bermuda will need fertilization over a period of months.

• When seeding bermudagrass, it is critical that seed not be planted too deep. Seeds should be set at ¼ inch deep. Sometimes it is helpful to prepare the seedbed, cultipack the seedbed, broadcast seed, and cultipack once more, particularly in loose, sandy soils. Seed can also be drilled but care must be taken to ensure seed is not set too deep.

• When sprigging, sprigs should be planted at least two inches deep. A pre-emergent herbicide, Diuron, is labeled for newly sprigged bermuda. Follow label instructions before using any pesticide.

• Weed control will be important even after the first year of establishment since bermudagrass does not tolerate shading.

• Bermudagrass is capable of rooting at the nodes on the stem, which makes it able to run and cover areas of a field.

• Bermudagrass has average crude protein content but can be relatively high, some studies show 14%, at good nitrogen fertilization levels. Comparable forages nutritionally can include bahiagrass and crabgrass. Most bermudagrass is adequate for most production types of animals, particularly those without a high energy or protein requirement such as dry cows.

• Bermudagrass does not have numerous pest or disease problems but some that can be a problem for yield and quality include fall armyworms, leaf spot (a fungal disease), some types of nematodes, and weeds. Most of the solutions are cultural practices such as frequent mowing, irrigation timing, and avoiding sites that are not well-drained. A number of insecticides are labeled for fall armyworms to reduce yield losses and a number of herbicides are labeled for different weeds to reduce competition. Some livestock will not graze some weeds, which may lead to shading on bermuda. For nematodes (if you have a proper diagnosis), you will have to rotate crops or irrigate, fertilize and possibly lime bermuda more diligently to strengthen the root system since nematicides are not labeled on bermuda forages.

For more information, contact your local extension agent and see the publication “Bermudagrass Production in North Carolina” as a reference (scroll down to “More News” and “Learn more using the resources below")

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